TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-Belarus Vice Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko along with five other officials met with Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK) in Jakarta on Monday, May 30, 2016, to discuss collaboration in economic sector.
The meeting, Vice PM Semashko said, talked about the continuation of the relationship between two countries in the past two years. “Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko visited Indonesia three years ago, and now Belarus wants to cooperate with Indonesia,” he said.
Trade volume in Belarus has been increasing within the last three years. The rise reaches 1.7 times compared to the previous years. The trade value among both countries within the past few years reaches $235 million.
Semashko is confident that in the future, the trade value of both countries could increase. Therefore, Belarus is ready to support Indonesian companies that wish to cooperate. Indonesia has huge potential, particularly in population.
With its strategic position in Southeast Asia, Indonesia becomes the gate to enter other Southeast Asian countries. “Belarus is also located in strategic position as a gate to enter the European market,” said Semashko.
Belarus is interested to cooperate with Indonesia in the palm oil and rubber trade sector. Yesterday, the entourage from Belarus met with the Governor of South Sumatra. The meeting with the Vice President today is to emphasize the cooperation in the future.
ADITYA BUDIMAN
